Sasol and Government bring affordable energy to rural poor in Northern Cape

Date

28 October, 2005

The Minister of Minerals and Energy (DME), Lindiwe Hendricks and Sasol chief executive Pat Davies, today opened a R2,6 million Integrated Energy Centre (IeC) at Laxey near Kuruman in the Northern Cape Province. The centre will deliver energy essentials such as petrol, diesel, illuminating paraffin, lubricants and candles to the doorstep of the rural poor.

Sasol committed R15 million in November 2002 to the establishment of five IeCs within poverty nodes identified in terms of government's Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Plan.

The IeCs are established by Sasol in partnership with the DME. Sasol's involvement includes feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, construction of the IeCs, training of employees and management, and the supply of products.

"The DME regards energy as the prime catalyst for socioeconomic development and has identified IeCs as growth drivers for capacity building in poor and underdeveloped rural communities. The focus is on educating and training communities in aspects of energy conservation and to establish energy shops in areas where people have to travel great distances at high costs to obtain energy sources such as firewood, charcoal, candles, liquefied petroleum gas and paraffin for basic needs such as cooking, heat and lighting," says Minister Hendricks.

"Access to basic, clean energy services is essential for sustainable development and poverty eradication, and provides major benefits in the areas of health, literacy and equity. The IeCs are making a real difference to the lives of the poorest of the poor, offering them the choice to study at night, travel, cook, watch television and even start small businesses," says Sasol CE Pat Davies.

The Laxey IeC is a cooperative owned by 100 members of the community representing some 186 villages spread over a large area. More than 60 % of the members are women and youth. Their efforts will be coordinated by the Moshaweng Municipality which falls within the Kgalagadi District Municipal node.

The IeC has created ten new job opportunities - of which seven have been filled by women - in a rural area with extremely limited employment opportunities.

The Sasol branded Laxey IeC looks like a smaller version of Sasol's Convenience Centres, which are being rolled out in all metropolitan areas of the country. Staff and board members were trained at the Sasol Academy at Sasolburg.

The Moshaweng Municpality in Kgalagadi contributed towards construction costs and provided R500 000 in capital to provide salaries for the IeC staff during the first year in operation.

"We are very pleased with Sasol and our Minister Hendricks for bringing essential products such as petrol and paraffin so much closer to our community. Our people have had to travel over 80 kilometres to Kuruman by bus or taxi to buy products that are now available on our doorstep. The Laxey IeC will become a very important hub from which more development to the advantage of the community will stem," says Moshaweng Mayor, Irene Mothibakeledi.

The first IeC was officially opened at Caba-Mdeni, near Matatiele in the Eastern Cape on 3 December 2004 by Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy, Lulama Xingwana. Sasol and the DME will next establish IeCs at Makgobistad, near Mafikeng in North West; Mutali at Venda in Limpopo, and Qunu in the Eastern Cape.

The Caba-Mdeni IeC at Matatiele has already proven itself a catalyst for improving the lives of the local community. Besides the energy products on sale, it is also used as a safe pension pay-out point, sparing the elderly a 60km travel distance to town, while a newly established spaza shop supplies commodities such as mealie meal, cooking oil and rice.

An Eskom power line to the Caba Mdeni IeC and a Vodacom cell phone mast have extended energy availability and also opened up the world of wireless communication to the locals.

ends

Total Stores	Division	Store Location	Address	Tel No
1	Relabelled	Salt River	29 Brickfield Road, Salt River, Cape Town	(021)4479913
2	Relabelled	Bellville	Shop 4, Corner Voortrekker Rd & Durban RD, Bellville	(021)9171860
3	Relabelled	Kenilworth	Unit number 3 access park, Chichester road, Kenilworth	(021)6714778,
4	Relabelled	Kuilsrivier	Shop 4 & 5 Access Park, Kuilsrivier	(021)9031294 061 287 3980
5	Relabelled	Mobeni	Cnr Grimsby & Leicester Rd, Mobeni, Durban	(031)4620540 W\House (031) 469 9409
6	Relabelled	Pier 14	21A Pier 14, Shopping Centre, Port Elizabeth	(041)4841575 083 5176 728
7	Relabelled	Marlboro	13 Sparten Crescent ,Marlboro , Ext 3 Johannesburg	(011) 262 0460
8	Relabelled	Soweto	Maponya Shop 200 2127 Chris hani Road, klipspruit ext5 Soweto	(011) 933 1023
9	Relabelled	Umlazi	Shop 155 Umlazi Mega City 50 Griffiths Mxenge Highway Umlazi	(031) 902 1325
10	Relabelled	Epping	10 Losack avenue , epping industrial	(021) 534 0401
1	BCWC	Kloof	Lifes on Kloof, 50 Kloof Street, Gardens ,Cape Town, shop G-15	(021) 422 1593 078 211 8051
2	BCWC	Canal Walk	Shop 619 Canal Walk , Century BLVD, Century City , Cape Town 7441	(021) 551 2891
3	BCWC	Monte Casino	Shop 80B Montecasino, No1 Monticasino Bouelvard Fourways , 2191 Magents	(011) 465 0438
4	BCWC	Menlyn	Shop UF 42 & 43 cnr atterbury road & lois avenue , menlo park , Pretoria	(012) 764 9600
5	BCWC	Balito	SHOP 608 LEONORA DRIVE,DOLPHIN COAST,BALLITO,4399	032 586 0242
6	BCWC	Rosebank	Shop GF08, The Zone, Rosebank mall, Oxford Street, Johannesburg	(011)268 1114
1	Magents	Canal Walk	Shop 08 , Century Blvd , Century City 7441	(021) 551 2533 JP CELL: 064 686 4026
2	Magents	Monte Casino	Shop 21 Montecasino, No1 Monticasino Bouelvard Fourways , 2191 Magents	(011) 465 6721 074 669 6310 073 804 4352 079 884 7607
3	Magents	Menlyn	MENLYN MALL , SHOP G190 CNR ATTERBURY ROAD & LOIS AVENUE,MENLO PARK,PRETORIA	(012) 348 4725 073 8677 468 - Sieya , kiley , OUPA, Micheal
4	Magents	Balito	SHOP 608 LEONORA DRIVE,DOLPHIN COAST,BALLITO,4399	061 521 7446 032 586 1467
1	WSA	Menlyn	MENLYN MALL ,LF41A CNR ATTERBURY ROAD & LOIS AVENUE,MENLO PARK,PRETORIA	Vicky - 078 816 1921 land line - 012 348 4766
6	BCWC	Rosebank	Shop GF08, The Zone, Rosebank mall, Oxford Street, Johannesburg	(011)268 1114
1	Magents	Canal Walk	Shop 08 , Century Blvd , Century City 7441	(021) 551 2533 JP CELL: 064 686 4026
2	Magents	Monte Casino	Shop 21 Montecasino, No1 Monticasino Bouelvard Fourways , 2191 Magents	(011) 465 6721 074 669 6310 073 804 4352 079 884 7607
3	Magents	Menlyn	MENLYN MALL , SHOP G190 CNR ATTERBURY ROAD & LOIS AVENUE,MENLO PARK,PRETORIA	(012) 348 4725 073 8677 468 - Sieya , kiley , OUPA, Micheal
4	Magents	Balito	SHOP 608 LEONORA DRIVE,DOLPHIN COAST,BALLITO,4399	061 521 7446 032 586 1467
1	WSA	Menlyn	MENLYN MALL ,LF41A CNR ATTERBURY ROAD & LOIS AVENUE,MENLO PARK,PRETORIA	Vicky - 078 816 1921 land line - 012 348 4766

Overview

Overview

Overview

Overview

Overview

Overview

Overview

Sasol and Government bring affordable energy to rural poor in Northern Cape

Sasol and Government bring affordable energy to rural poor in Northern Cape